on Tripadvisor
August 2025 | Similar tour: Private Fly-In Safari to Katavi National Park
Dear Anastasia,
I’m back again, although my soul hasn’t quite made it back yet!!!!!!! After a few hours on a plane, you suddenly find yourself in a completely different world. It always feels a little strange.
I thought of you so often, and about how wonderfully you organised everything for me.
Starting with the Blue Sapphire Hotel near the airport in Dar es Salaam. For the two nights, it was absolutely fine. It had a good restaurant, so everything was perfect. On the full day I had there, I was already kept busy meeting quite a few friends and acquaintances.
The lodge in Katavi National Park was fantastic. Mbali Mbali means “far away” – and that’s exactly what it was: wonderfully remote. Can you imagine? There was only a Swiss couple staying there on my first night, and after that I was completely alone!!!!! I was treated like a queen 🙂. I had the game drives all to myself with the lodge manager, and we saw a lot. Of course, the park isn’t as spectacular as the Serengeti or some of the other parks, but I didn’t need that – I’ve already been to Tanzania so many times.
Once, we came across two safari vehicles from the FOX Lodge and… oh, I’ve forgotten the name. Anyway, those vehicles were packed with people! And there I was, completely on my own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My stay with my African family was also very lovely, and the final three days in Dar es Salaam worked out wonderfully too. Since I already know the Slipway, I felt very comfortable there again. And above all, the temperatures were fantastic – mid-20s Celsius, with hardly any humidity in Dar es Salaam. Incredible. When I was there for work, usually between March and May, it was hot and, at least in Dar, there was 100% humidity.
If I ever plan to fly there again, I would only go at this time of year.
Here in southern Germany, we are currently having temperatures between 35 and 39 degrees. Nobody here is prepared for temperatures like that, and many people aren’t even going outside anymore. And we haven’t had any rain for days, in some places even weeks.
Climate change is certainly making itself felt!!
When I’m ready, I’ll send you some pictures. For now, I just wanted to send this email and thank you once again from the bottom of my heart. If I do it again – perhaps in three years – I’ll definitely get in touch with you again, or with Africa Experience.
For today, warmest regards,
Ingrid
